Storable support for floor cleaning apparatus



A. H. SMITH 3,231,922

STORABLE SUPPORT FOR FLOOR CLEANING APPARATUS Feb. 1, 1966 Filed June 21, 1963 INVENTOR 170701: .E. 5M4

United States Patent 3,231,922 STORABLE SUPPORT FOR FLOOR CLEANIN APPARATUS i 1 Aaron H. Smith, Ipswich, Mass., assignor to Signal Manufacturing Co., Salem, Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts Filed June 21, 1963, Ser. No. 289,641 r 6 Claims. 01. -339) clined position to enable the operator toleave it tem-.

poraril y during the course of its use without laying it down or propping it against furniture, for example when answering the telephone or the door hell, or to perform other operations such as moving furniture from one place to another to enablereaching areas of the floor normally covered by 'the furniture; to provide a support which is normally stored within a recess at the underside of the'apparat-us so as to be substantiallyinconspicuous; to provide a support which, when stored during non-use, will not interfere with normal operation of the apparatus either by catching on or being caught by parts of furniture, drapes, electric cords and the like; to provide a support which can be easily and quickly moved to its extended position for use without manipulation of adjusting screws, nuts or-the like; to provide a support which is sturdy, stifr and of light-weight; and to provide a support which is inexpensive to manufacture, may be.

incorporated in the body of the apparatus with the least amount of redesign, and constitutes an attractive adjunct.

Asherein illustrated, the support which for-ms the subject matter of this invention is used in conjunction with a vacuum cleaner having a floor-engaging part, a body and handle, and comprises a leg connected at one end to the body for movement from a [position parallel to the body to an angular position for disposition of its distal end in spaced relation to the fioor-engaging part. The body contains an elongate channel parallel to its axis for receiving the leg when the latter is not in use and a keeper on the body at the proximal end of the leg is operative releasably to hold the leg alternatively stored in the channel and extended for use. A pivot 'plate at the lower end of the channel provides the connection for the leg and the keeper plate is secured outwardly of the pivot plate and overlies the proximal end of the leg when the latter is disposed in the channel. The leg has elastically displaceable portions yieldable, by force applied to the distal end of the leg relative to the keeper plate, to permit the leg to be swung outwardly of the channel and downwardly at an angle to the body and there are shoulders on the keeper plate for receiving the displaced portions of the leg when the latter is extended to hold it extended for use.

The invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: FIG. 1 is an elevation of a vacuum cleaner shown in its operative position relative to the floor and with the support stored in an out-of-the-way position;

FIG. 2 is an elevation of the vacuum cleaner with the Referring to the drawings, there is shown in FIG. 1 a vacuum cleaner of conventional construction having a floor-engaging part 12 which includes, for example, a suction nozzle, a body portion 14 which would normally house the motor and a dust-receiving bag, and a handle 16 by which the apparatus is adapted to be moved about the floor. Normally, such an apparatus is not self-supporting and hence must be propped up against a piece of furniture or laid down on the floor when not in use. In accordance with this invention, a supporting leg 18 is provided to support the apparatus in an inclined position relative to the floor, shown in dotted lines in FIG. 1 inits stored position and in full lines in FIG. 2 in its operative position. -The leg 18 (FIG. 4) is comprised of spaced parallel limbs 20-20 of stilt wire joined at one endby a loop 22 having laterally extending feet 24-24. Each of the opposite ends of the limbs 20-20 has a hook-shaped portion 26 bent inwardly from the plane of the limbs and lying in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the limbs 20-20, and a pivot portion 28 lying in a plane parallel to the plane of the limbs. The pivot portions 28-28 extend toward each other and provide an axis about which the leg is adapted to be pivoted from its stored position to its operative position as will appear hereinafter.

The body portion 14 of the apparatus contains in its wall, at the lower side (FIG. 3), a shallow elongate recess or channel 30 which is parallel to the length of the apparatus and is of a width to receive the limbs 20-20 of the leg 18. As shown in FIG. 3, the loop 22, which forms the foot of the leg, is bent outwardly of the plane of the limbs 20-20 so as to project from the recess suihciently to enable grasping the end and pulling the leg into its operative position. Thus, the recess at this end need not be enlarged to receive the foot portions 24-24. r

The leg 18 is connected to the body portion by means of a pivot plate 32 (FIGS. 3 and 4) of substantially rectangular configuration, having at its inner side rightangularly disposed flanges 34-34 containing bolt holes 36-36 by means of which it is secured to the body structure and a boss 38 containing a bearing hole 40, the axis of which is transverse to the body for receiving the pivot portions 28-28 of the limbs. The pivot plate is narrower than the space between the limbs 20-20 hence the leg is free to swing relative to the pivot plate. A keeper plate 42 (FIGS. 3, 5 and 6) containing spaced openings 44-44, corresponding in spacing to the opening 36-36 in the flanges 34-34 of the pivot plate, is supported in spaced relation to the pivot plate and secured to the body together with the pivot plate by bolts 46-46. The keeper plate is wider than the leg so that its edges 48-48 overlie the limbs 20-20 when the leg is disposed in the recess and thus operates to hold the leg in its stored position. The edges 48-48 of the keeper plate taper from a maximum width at the mid-length of the keeper plate toward its right end to a width which is slightly less than the spacing of the limbs 20-20. The edges at the right-hand end, as shown in FIG. 5, contain notches 50-50 which provide shoulders 52-52 and has transversely extending stops 54-54 at its extremity.

The inherent elasticity of the wire limbs 20-20 of the leg normally hold the limbs in substantially parallel relation to each other thus holding the pivot portions 28-28 in the bearing hole 40. However, since the limbs are not connected at their proximal ends, they are free to spread relative to each other but without disengagement of the pivot portions 28-28 from the bearing hole 40. This spreading or displacement is elfected by grasping the foot of the leg and pulling it outwardly thereby wedging the narrower right-hand end of the keeper plate between the limbs so that they are forced apart and may consequently be swung angularly to the extended position shown in FIG. 2. As the leg is swung to its finally extended position, the limbs are brought up against the stops 5454 which limit such pivotal movement and become nested by the natural resilience of the limbs in the recesses 5050 behind the shoulders 5252 thus locking the leg in its extended position. The shoulders 52-52 at the left end operate, during the reverse movement of the leg, to spread the limbs sufficiently to disengage them from the recesses 59-50 thus enabling returning of the leg to the recess for storage.

To eliminate any possibility of the projecting foot portion of the leg from being accidentally caught by electric cords, drapes and the like, a block 56 is secured by screw bolts 58 to the body next to its foot as shown in FIG. 3.

While the support which forms the subject matter of this invention is illustrated herein in conjunction with a vacuum-type cleaner, it is to be understood that it is within the scope of the invention to use it with any floor-treating apparatus of the type which is not selfsupporting, including apparatus embodying scrubbing and/or polishing motor-driven brushes and apparatus which is adapted to distribute and take-up wash water, cleaning compounds, detergents and waxes.

It should be understood that the present disclosure is for the purpose of illustration only and that this invention includes all modifications and equivalents which fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In combination with a floor cleaning apparatus of the type having an elongated body portion, a handle arm projecting from the upper end thereof, and a floor engaging element at the lower end thereof which assumes a normal floor engaging position:

(a) an elongated support leg;

(b) means pivotally connecting one end of said leg to said body portion whereby said leg is swingable from a first position adjacent said body portion to a second position where said leg extends downwardly and outwardly of said body portion with the lower end thereof spaced from said floor engaging element;

(c) latching detent means for releasably locking said leg in said first and second positions whereby when said leg is in said first position, it moves with and in non-interfering relationship to said floor cleaning apparatus, and whereby when said leg is in said second position, it serves with said floor engaging element to support said body portion and said handle arm in upright position with respect to a floor;

(d) said elongated body portion having a longitudinal recess therein receiving said elongated support leg when said leg is in said first position; and

(e) said support leg having at the end thereof opposite said one end, an elongated foot portion outwardly offset such that said foot portion is spaced from said body portion and extends outwardly of said recess when said leg is in said first position so that said foot portion can be gripped easily by a user to move said leg to said second position thereof.

2. The combination defined in claim 1 wherein said means pivotally connecting said one end of said leg to said body portion comprises a pivot plate at the lower end of said longitudinal recess, and wherein said latching detent means comprises a keeper plate secured to said body outwardly of said pivot plate, said keeper plate overlying the pivoted end of said leg when said leg is disposed in said first position, said leg having an elastically displaceable portion yieldable, by force applied to the elongated foot portion relative to said keeper plate, to permit said leg to be swung outwardly of said recess and downwardly, said keeper plate having shoulders for receiving said displaceable portion of said leg when said leg is disposed in said second position.

3. The combination defined in claim 2, wherein said elongate support leg comprises spaced parallel limbs with pivot portions projecting toward each other at said one end and a loop portion integral with said limbs and shaped to provide said elongated foot portion.

4. The combination defined in claim 1 wherein said elongated foot portion of said support leg comprises a loop through which a users fingers can be inserted to grip the same for moving said elongated support leg from said first position to said second position.

5. The combination defined in claim 1 wherein said elongated support leg comprises a yieldable portion at said one end thereof, and wherein said latching detent means comprises a plate member overlying said yieldable portion of said support leg when said support leg is in said first position, said plate member having shoulders thereon for engaging said support leg when said support leg is in said second position, said yieldable portion of said support leg being movable with respect to said plate member to permit movement of said support leg from said first position to said second position.

6. The combination defined in claim 1 wherein said leg has a length sutficient to stably tilt said floor engaging element upwardly and forwardly from said normal floor engaging position when said leg is in said second position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 889,982 6/1908 Stein-berg 248-456 2,175,644 10/ 1939 Replogle. 2,269,482 1/1942 Replogle 15336 X FOREIGN PATENTS 3,097 2/1901 Great Britain. 65,453 3/ 1950 Netherlands.

ROBERT W. MICHELL, Primary Examiner,

WALTER A. SCHEEL, Examiner. 

1. IN COMBINATION WITH A FLOOR CLEANING APPARATUS OF THE TYPE HAVING AN ELONGATED BODY PORTION, A HANDLE ARM PROJECTING FORM THE UPPER END THEREOF, AND A FLOOR ENGAGING ELEMENT AT THE LOWER END THEREOF WHICH ASSUMES A NORMAL FLOOR ENGAGING POSITION: (A) AN ELONGATED SUPPORT LEG; (B) MEANS PIVOTALLY CONNECTING ONE END OF SAID LEG TO SAID BODY PORTION WHEREBY SAID LEG IS SWINGABLE FROM A FIRST POSITION ADJACENT SAID BODY PORTION TO A SECOND POSITION WHERE SAID LEG EXTENDS DOWNWARDLY AND OUTWARDLY OF SAID BODDY PORTION WITH THE LOWER END THEREOF SPACED FROM SAID FLOOR ENGAGING ELEMENT; (C) LATCHING DETENT MEANS FOR RELEASABLY LOCKING SAID LEG IN SAID FIRST AND SECOND POSITIONS WHEREBY WHEN SAID LEG IS IN SAID FIRST POSITION, IT MOVES WITH AND IN NON-INTERFERING RELATIONSHIP TO SAID FLOOR CLEANING APPARATUS, AND WHEREBY WHEN SAID LEG IS IN SAID SECOND POSITION, IT SERVES WITH SAID FLOOR ENGAGING ELEMENT TO SUPPORT SAID BODY PORTION AND SAID HANDLE ARM IN UPRIGHT POSITION WITH RESPECT TO A FLOOR; (D) SAID ELONGATED BODY PORTION HAVING A LONGITUDINAL RECESS THEREIN RECEIVING SAID ELONGATED SUPPORT LEG WHEN SAID LEG IS IN SAID FIRST POSITION; AND (E) SAID SUPPORT LEG HAVING AT THE END THEREOF OPPOSITE SAID ONE END, AN ELONGATED FOOT PORTION OUTWARDLY OFFSET SUCH THAT SAID FOOT PORTION IS SPACED FROM SAID BODY PORTION AND EXTENDS OUTWARDLY OF SAID RECESS WHEN SAID LEG IS IN SAID FIRST POSITION SO THAT SAID FOOT PORTION CAN BE GRIPPED EASILY BY A USER TO MOVE SAID LEG TO SAID SECOND POSITION THEREOF. 